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B$Z: Priority Bicycles Achieves Success Through Simplicity

New York-based cycling innovator, Priority
Bicycles, is
celebrating its first year in business as one of the fastest growing bicycle
companies in the world. As the cycling industry remains flat, Priority
Bicycles has identified a unique market opportunity and built a bicycle to meet
the needs of the masses. With a clear concept of making
cycling simple for recreational riders, Priority Bicycles took Kickstarter by
storm in July 2014 selling 1,500 bicycles and surpassing its original goal by
1854% in raising over $556,000. Over the last year Priority Bicycles expanded into
international distribution, built numerous fleet partnerships with premiere
hotel and resort destinations – including Viceroy Santa Monica, Nantucket Island
Resorts and Le Meridien Montreal
- and successfully funded its second line of bicycles on Kickstarter with the
Priority Start.

Founded by Dave Weiner and Connor
Swegle, Priority Bicycles re-imagined cycling to address many problems modern
riders face. Offering refreshingly smart design and engineering - including
Priority’s signature belt drive to replace greasy chains - the brand focused on
creating a lightweight, easy to ride, low maintenance and visually appealing
ride with its first bike, the Priority Classic. Requiring no technical bike
knowledge, the Classic assembles within minutes and is constructed of a
lightweight, rustproof aluminum frame with puncture-resistant tires.

By establishing a direct-to-consumer
online business model and streamlining production flow, the founders have
effectively developed an $800 bicycle that retails for about
$400. The innovations in Priority’s engineering and business model have received
widespread critical acclaim, including accolades, awards and endorsements from national
media and Fortune 500 companies.

“Our first year in business has
surpassed any and all expectations we had,” said Weiner, Founder and CEO of
Priority Bicycles. “We took a chance by rethinking the bicycle from the ground
up to make it more simple, easy to ride, and easy to maintain. It made complete
sense to us, but no one had done it – a belt drive at the core, light, rust
resistant, and easy. We’re thrilled with the overwhelming support we’ve
received, and are excited to continue the growth of Priority in year two.”

Simplicity and accessibility is also
reflected in the customer experience at Priority with Weiner and Swegle, along
with Marketing and Creative Manager Lauren Jones, providing hands-on support to
every interested buyer. With a streamlined business model, the modest staff
offers individual test rides, technical support and personal responses to
customer questions and feedback in addition to the day-to-day operations.

“As a
consumer direct company, it is important for us to establish trust with our
customers, always letting them know that we stand behind our bicycle 100% and
are always there to help.Our customers
are everything to us, they are the reason this dream and vision has come to
life.We owe them the best service and
best product we can possibly offer, and to us that means helping them
one-on-one and seeing to each question or concern personally,” said Weiner.

Proud of their success, Weiner and
Swegle have shared their simplified design-driven business development model
through speaking engagements around the country, including a recent talk to the
design and product teams at eBay and Paypal on Priority’s Success through Simplicity. Weiner shared
Priority’s mindful approach to design by focusing on customer experience to cut
through the marketplace clutter to innovate product, accessibility and
price.

A fitting cap to their first year in
business, Priority Bicycles successfully funded its second Kickstarter campaign
in June, with the development of a children’s bicycle, the Priority Start. The
bicycle is designed from the same foundations as Priority’s first line bikes: a
grease-free belt drive and aluminum frame. However, the Priority Start also
feature air-free Easy-Go tires and an innovative Priority Start System, a
patent-pending training wheel set that easily adjusts to one of three levels
and requires no tools to affix or adjust.

To date, Priority has shipped over 6,000 bicycles since
December 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down. The company plans to announce
additional product launches in the fall of 2015.